David Benavidez does not believe that undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford should face undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and that he deserves the opportunity ahead of Crawford.
The unbeaten super-middleweight contender believes that he has established himself as the leading contender to face Canelo, currently holding the WBC’s interim super-middleweight title, making him the WBC’s mandatory challenger for an opportunity at the undisputed championship at 168lbs.
Ultimately, Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) feels that Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) is too small to challenge Canelo. Crawford would have to move up some 21 lbs and three weight classes in order to face Canelo, which would ultimately lead to an extravagant payday for both fighters.
“To be honest with you, I don’t wanna see that,” Benavidez told BoxingScene.com. “We’ve already seen what happened when he fought somebody [from] 154 [Jermell Charlo]. So, what is gonna happen when he fights somebody [from] 147? I respect Crawford a lot, but I don’t wanna see a 147-pounder fight a 168-pounder.”
Benavidez continued to respect Crawford while admiring his ambitions to face Canelo. Benavidez did add that Crawford’s willingness to face Canelo should not be misinterpreted for Crawford having a legitimate chance at beating Canelo and becoming a three-weight undisputed world champion.
“I understand Crawford is a great fighter and he wants to go up to 168 to fight Canelo,” Benavidez said. “But if you ask somebody at 112 pounds to come up and fight Canelo, they’ll go up to fight Canelo. You know what I mean? So, it’s just basically everybody wants the fight. But, you know, we as fans deserve competitive fights. You know what I mean? And that’s why I feel like Canelo doesn’t wanna fight me right now, because he knows it’s the most competitive fight. And I’m working like an animal in the gym, so that’s why he knows.”
Any prospect of Crawford facing Canelo immediately is slim due to Crawford currently subject to a potential immediate rematch with Errol Spence Jr, whom Crawford stopped in nine rounds in July to claim the undisputed welterweight championship.
Benavidez will next return to action on November 25th in Las Vegas, Nevada, against unbeaten former super-welterweight and middleweight world champion Demetrius Andrade.
Follow this link, If you want to read our analysis & predictions about Canelo Next Fight from Benavidez vs Andrade Winner 🥊
